Board Layout

The ROG Maximus XII Extreme uses a classic ASUS design, a black PCB matched with black heat sinks and dark, polished accents over the chipset and the rear I/O cover.


The CPU socket is open enough for most air coolers. The VRM features a large heatsink, along with a second heatsink that covers both the VCCSA power section and the chipset.


There are two M.2 slots on the ASUS ROG Maximus XII Extreme, both nested together between the PCI3 x16 slots. A large heatsink covers both slots.


In addition to the built-in M.2 slots, the DIMM.2 expansion card includes two more M.2 slots, as well as thermistor headers for each.


The ASUS Z490 PG ROG Maximus XII Extreme offers two PCI Express 3.0 x16 slots, both steel-reinforced, as well as one PCI Express 3.0 x1 slot. The unusual PCIe layout is designed to accommodate two three-slot GPUs without blocking the PCI Express 3.0 x1 slot. The board has a total of eight SATA 6 Gb/s ports on the side, angled 90 degrees from the board.


The ASUS Z490 PG ROG Maximus XII Extreme has a great I/O offering that includes an optical S/PDIF out port, Wi-Fi 6, dual LAN, and lots of USB connectivity.

• 2x Antenna ports
• Clear CMOS button
• 6x USB 3.2 Gen1 Type-A ports
• 2x USB 2.0 ports
• 2x USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-A port
• USB 3.2 Gen2 Type-C port
• USB 3.2 Gen2x2 Type-C port
• 2x RJ-45 LAN port
• Optical SPDIF out port
• 5x 3.5 mm audio jacks

Networking on the ASUS Z490 PG ROG Maximus XII Extreme is handled by Intel's I225V controller, as well as a Marvell® AQtion AQC107C for 10 Gb/s LAN. For wireless connectivity, there is an AX201 Wi-Fi 6 module.